AN ambitious £12 billion blueprint to transform Scotland’s rural economy and revive the tourism sector in the wake of the pandemic is to be unveiled at next month’s SNP conference.

The 10-year strategy – which if passed could be included in a SNP Programme for Government if the party wins the 2021 election – aims to combat depopulation with a series of initiatives including encouraging people to move to the countryside and restating former rail lines.

Its 24-point “Rural Stimulus Plan” recommits the party to putting one million acres in community ownership and replanting parts of the ancient Caledonian Forest – a move it says would generate hundreds of forestry jobs as well as cut carbon emissions.

Other environmental measures include rewilding of the countryside and reducing pollution in all rivers and lakes to levels safe for swimming.

Further proposals include:

- Doubling spending on promoting Scottish food and drink exports

- Demanding tax powers allowing Holyrood to impose higher taxes on Amazon which many believe have damaged small high street shops

- An international marketing campaign to promote Scotland as a sustainable tourist destination

- Considering free bus travel to people in the most remote communities, more cycleways and a free bicycle borrowing scheme for pupils.

The authors say many of the initiatives could be funded by the Scottish Government under current financial arrangements, with rail line reinstatement best paid for through borrowing powers.

Fergus Mutch, the SNP’s former communications chief at Holyrood who is seeking to stand for election in Aberdeenshire West in May, is among the activists in Deeside and Upper Donside who worked on the blueprint.

He said: “Rural and remote Scotland face serious challenges and the SNP should think big about how we solve them.

“Our Rural Stimulus Plan offers a set of serious, ambitious proposals to help these communities across Scotland realise their potential.

“Covid-19 has changed life for each and every one of us. There’s been plenty of chat about what the ‘new normal’ looks like and how we might seek to ‘build back better’.

“This is an attempt to put some policy meat on the bones of how that might work in practice.

“There’s also a hidden impact of the shock of the pandemic in rural Scotland, which for many people and communities has been an isolating experience, devastating for business and compounded by poor connectivity and access to local services.

“Some of these issues we should address are structural, such as who owns land and how they use it. On tackling climate change, growing food and drink exports, expanding tourism ... rural Scotland should be at the heart of that ambition.

“I look forward to this plan opening up a debate ... and setting in motion real change for the better. By investing now, we can all share more in the benefits for many years to come.”

The plans will be put to the online conference at the end of November.